Jen Whyte

Irene Burdell, 3 months ago

I never use flash Jen when indoors it changes the colours completely . I always do them with natural light on them so stand them near to a window . I find this is the best way . But I am not an expert ,but it works well for me .

Chris Clark, 3 months ago

Hi Jen

would agree with Irene.

another technique that I use is the following:

3ft length of greaseproof paper with a hole in it where I am going to put the stem of the flower. This is taped into the window and onto the windowsill. I take the photograph and then using photoshop I ensure that my background is pure white. It then gives me the effect that the flowers were floating on air when taken. Look at my Yellow Tulip and Orchids. They were done this way.

Next time I am passing I will show you what I mean.

Confused…......................then don’t be…......................I will show you…........

Chris

boydmiller, 3 months ago

First of all…and I know this is a pain….use a tripod to steady your camera…this gives you many options for shutter speeds, etc…..second…set your flowers near a window so they are getting natural light if possible…I watch the sun all the time to see what time of day it shines through a window, I like dark shadows in my images for the background, almost black..this enables the flowers to really be individuals and distinctive….I use the spot meter setting on my camera,,,and as I move the little focus point thingy around the image you can see it go from light to dark….if you put the little crosshair on the brigtest part of the flower the background will be almost black, iff the sunlight is striking the flower…compose, breath softly, squeeze…review the shot and shoot until you get it just right….I use the same technique outdoors on all of my flower shots…get in the habit of looking around during the day and seeing what the sunlight is doing..morning and evening is the best time because the rays are longer and warmer…long rays are the reds and oranges and yellows in the spectrum..that is why we get red sunrises and sunsets…look at my flower images to get an idea of how this works….I always use a mono or tripod…always….good luck….boyd

Mary Campbell, 3 months ago

First a few questions: Have you switched your camera settings from outdoor to indoor light? the K settings on some cameras. This is important because the light values are very different from outdoors to indoors. Set depending on the type of light you are using, if your using incadecent light, or flash light, its different from sun light in heat level of the light (also shade is different to). Some cameras allow you to set this directly some just give a general setting. If your trying to do macro shots indoors you probably need a softbox type of light indoors (they sell this really cheep ($12.00 US) attachment for your flash that you put over it to give you a soft effect. Or a bounce flash that directs the light away from the object. Otherwise you’ll get harsh shadows (which can be nice if that’s the effect you want). I’ll have to go find the name of the attachment, but it’s in the back of most photography magazines, that works relatively well. Some camera manufactures also sell a more expensive macro light that affixes the lens of some 35mm. And actually most small point and shoot camera today allow you to set the light, and the flower macro settings even. So again it depends on your camera type. Or if you want you can also build a light box (just need some of those frosted coverings they put on overhead lights in offices, and a some light source like a flood light.

Bottom line it’s all about the temperature and directness of the light.

I do not know what type of camera you’re using?

Or as other suggest use the sun comming in from a window, but that can be limiting sometimes depending on what you want to shoot and there can be a harshness (shadows) there too.

Hope that helps a bit..

Mary Campbell, 3 months ago

Well, I checked on the one I have, the price went up to $23.00 us.

Here is a link to adorama where you can see it:
http://www.adorama.com/LQSBM.html?sid=1208449421404366&searchinfo=soft%20box&item_no=1&searchinfo=soft%20box&item_no=1

LumiQuest Pro Max Mini Softbox.. Small, easy to use.. and it works of flowers and people too.
Hope that helps.

Mary Campbell, 3 months ago

Here is another article to read about the Kelvin temp. of light (white balancing on most digitals).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature

Also, if you have a white card shoot that as part of the set of pictures, balance in photoshop or other editing programs, and then apply it to your flower pictures, as a way to post process if necessary.

It will show you some variations in temp. depending on light source.

Heather Croft, 3 months ago

I’d stick to doing it outside seems a lot easier but I have always found a piece of white A4 paper is good to lighten

Jen Whyte in reply to Irene Burdell’s comment, 3 months ago

I have been using natural light so far but I have such HUGE windows … nearly all one wall and almost half of another that I felt the Orchids especially were getting bleached out that’s why I asked the question … don’t get me wrong I agree natural light’s usually best but I just don’t get good results with Orchids.

Jen Whyte in reply to Chris Clark’s comment, 3 months ago

You know my windows Chris … huge expanse on two sides which ‘bleaches’ the shots … yours is a good idea which I will try although I don’t have Photoshop!

Jen Whyte in reply to boydmiller’s comment, 3 months ago

Yep … I always use a tripod too but I have the problem of too much light from my windows which run round two sides of my room. My camera is on old Fiji S1 Pro that does not have ‘spot metering’
I don’t have the problem outside I have some pretty good shots of flowers in my portfolio …. looks like the only solution is to move house LOL … thanks for advice!

Jen Whyte in reply to Mary Campbell’s comment, 3 months ago

My camera is an old Fuji S1 Pro which is very basic so I tend to use it on manual and use a light meter to get the settings … it does have a macro setting but not an indoor one! See pprevious replies for light problem ….
Didn’t have this problem when using good SLR and 35mm film LOL
Thanks for your advice though … really helpful

Jen Whyte in reply to Mary Campbell’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you so much Mary for all your advice … very helpful … will check out softboxes!

Jen Whyte in reply to Mary Campbell’s comment, 3 months ago

I know what you are saying and I MUST learn to use photo editing!! I don’t have Photoshop but I do have Paint Shop Pro but it’s so complicated and I simply don’t understand the terms they use ,,,, like ’’raster layers etc!!! EEK!!

Jen Whyte in reply to Heather Croft’s comment, 3 months ago

I know Heather but I hate giving up … I don’t need to lighten … read about my windows in previous replies … I think I need to spend money which this poor old pensioner just doesn’t have … hahahaha!

Chris Clark, 3 months ago

Hi Jen

this is using the technique I described, will need to come and show you how it is done.

!http://images-1.redbubble.com/img/art/backingcolor:white/product:greeting-card/view:preview/96438-11-orchid.jpg

Chris Clark, 3 months ago

oops I think I have forgotten how to do the damn links again

“http://images-1.redbubble.com/img/art/backingcolor:white/product:greeting-card/view:preview/96438-11-orchid.jpg”

Luke Luther, 2 months ago

I usually use natural light but assist it with some kind of reflector (often just a piece of foamcore to reflect light back from the window). and on those overcast days I have to use a tripod. All of the recent flower images are shot indoors as it is still cold here (snowed most of yesterday). Have fun!

Jen Whyte in reply to Luke Luther’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Luke … I am so glad all our snow is away now … it’s been a long cold wet winter here!